Going For a Healthier Me!

Everyone has their own troubles and trials in their life.  This post is about something that is happening in my life right now.  I know that my issue may not be as devastating and heartbreaking as someone else's but it is my diagnosis to deal with.

About a year and half ago, my doctor diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes. First I was scared.  Then I was angry and refused to do anything he suggested.  Which in reality wasn't much, except a very strict prepackaged food plan that was VERY expensive.  I attempted this plan twice and failed.  Since then I have received very little support, counseling and/or guidance from my family doctor and I have all but ignored the fact that I have type 2 diabetes.

Yes I know you are probably saying...This is dangerous.  You need to take care of yourself.  But I think a person has to go through the stages of grief or something like it.
I've been scared.
I've been angry.
I've been in denial.
I've been depressed.

And now I think I have finally come through that black tunnel and out the other side ready to acknowledge this beast and deal with it.  I have made an appointment with Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology for a consultation and some advice/guidance.

These things I know already.
I need to monitor my levels and have started a log to take with me to my appointment on August 1.
I need to get more exercise and have started walking with Lauren.
I need to lose weight and am attempting to eat healthier by making better choices.
I need to give up my diet cokes but this is harder than one thinks.  I'm working on it by cutting back on the number of drinks I have each day.

The biggest thing I have figured out or that has finally come to me is that I have to do this for me.  Not for my family, not for a wedding next year.  I have to be selfish and do it for me and for only me.  If I do that everyone else will benefit as well because I will be healthy and happy.  I have finally reached acceptance.

I am posting about this here so that others facing similar hurdles can see that they are not alone in their fight.  I am posting this here to hold me accountable.  I am posting this here so that my friends and family can be supportive of the changes in my life.

Thank you to everyone in advance for your understanding and support and love.  I will keep you updated with my progress.  Here's to a healthier me!

And It's a Wrap!

Vacation that is...for now.  My life is now one big vacation due to retirement.  But actually I am talking here about my vacation with Lester.  We just returned home from a trip to Reno and California.
Here are the highlights starting with Reno.

Problem #1
We arrive at the Austin airport at 7:00 a.m. to find our flight to DFW is delayed enough to cause us to miss our connection to San Francisco where we have a rental car waiting for us so we can drive to Reno.  The ticket agent cannot find another flight for us into San Fran.  Not one!  Finally we decide to forgo the car in San Fran and fly to Reno.  We'll deal with the car later.

After arriving at DFW, Lester attempts to deal with the rental car.  Nothing but a refund can be done.  Fine. $300 back in our account. He will just start over and book a new rental car, but lo, and behold, now the rental cost will be close to $1100 for the week.  No way!  Where there is a will there is a way, I guess and soon he has us booked to get a rental at the airport in Reno for $315.  Only one catch.  It has to be returned to Reno and we are flying out of San Fran.  So we have decided to  take that, go on our travels through California, spend a day coming back to Reno at the end, and returning it.  Then get another rental car to drive back to California and deliver it to the San Fran airport the next morning when we fly out.  $350  more. Oh well...here we go.

Lester was bowling in a tournament in Reno with some of his guy friends.  Since no other wives came a long, I was free to excuse my self from the watching of said bowling.  Instead I gambled and lost money, gambled and won money, shopped, laid by the pool and gambled and lost money.  On Saturday evening, we picked up our rental car from  the Reno airport and headed to northern California.

Here are the highlights from the trip.

• Roosevelt elk herd in a meadow
• Sun Dial Bridge in Redding
• views along the coastal highway
• Redwood National Forest
• Big Tree-1500 years old, 304 ft tall
• Drive through the Avenue of the Giants
• Immortal tree, Dyerville Giant, Eternal tree house
• Shrine Drive Through Tree and tree houses
• ocean views
• sea glass at Glass Beach
• cattle crossing the road
• Richmond Bridge-double decker 5.5 miles long
• Pebble Beach community
• SF Giants baseball game, drinking hot chocolate on July 1st
• shopping and eating along Fisherman's Wharf
• Golden Gate Bridge and park

Problem #2

On July 4th we arrived at the SF airport at 7:00 a.m. for our 9:15 flight to Phoenix and connecting flight to Austin.  But guess what!  Our flight has been cancelled!  US Airways has nothing available until 8 p.m. with 3 layovers getting us home the next morning.  Ummm, no thank you.  They send us to United.  We can try standby on a 10:45 flight but it's not looking good and they'll book us on a nonstop to Austin at 4:10 p.m.  We will get to spend the whole day in the SF airport.  Yea!  Not!  We try for the standby and just as they call us to board, the family they've been waiting on arrives. Booo!  Now we wait till 4.  Kinda felt like Tom Hanks in that movie....stuck in the airport all day. Great news though, there is a nail salon, so I get a mani/pedi to kill some time while Lester watches episodes of Cheers on Netflix.

Finally board and arrive home in Austin around 10 p.m.  Aaahhh my own bed.  Glad to be home.....for now....until our next adventure.